Gaming apparatus



"Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,199.

0. P-. SPILMAN. GAMING APPARATUS.

FILED rea.19,1921.

l' atented lliec. l9,

parent OLIVER IE. SPILMAN, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

GAMING APPARATUS.

Application filed February 19, 1921. Serial No. 446,479.

1 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER P. SPILMAN,'1 citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n a Gaining Appa ratus, of which the following is a specifica-v tion. i This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a gaming apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide a toy apparatus designed to be used for playing a game somewhat similar tobaslret-ball.

Another object is to provide a portable apparatus which may be compactly folded up when not in use.

i l/ ith the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the, accompanying drawings,

wherein 2- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus in open position.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the ball thrower.

Figure 3 shows a side view thereof, and

Figure 4 shows a plan viewof the net.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 refers to the casing as a whole. This casing includes a shallow box-like structure having the hack 2, the top and bottom 3 and i and the ends 5, 5. Hinged to the free edge of the bottom a there is the field board 6 which is formed of two sections hinged together along the line 7, and one of which also is hinged to the free edge of the bottom 4 along the line 19. This board is marked off to represent a hasket ball field, as shown in Figure 1. There are also end boards 8, 8, which are hinged to the ends 5, 5 aloi'ig the lines 9, 9 and whose other edges are free. The top board 10 is hinged to the free edge of the top 3 along the line 11 and its other edges are free.

A net 12 is fastened to the back 2 near its center.

A ball thrower is provided consisting of a base 13, to which the lower ends of the spring wire 14. are fastened. These ends are formed with coils 15, 15 which give them the required flexibility and the wire is formed also with a circular ball holder 16, above said coils, and a loop 17 for a purpose to be stated. The ball 18 is placed in the holder and the holder then placed at the required place on the field. The ball is propelled toward the net by depressing the loop 1? and then suddenly releasing the same. The holder has suflicient propelling power to cast the ball into the net but the accuracy of its operation will depend on the skill of the operator.

lVhen the device is not in use the end boards 8 may be folded inwardly along the lines9 and the top board 10 folded downwardly along the line 11. The field board 6 is then folded over along the line 7 and then upwardly along the line 19 to completely en close the casing and maize it compact in form. The net 12, the ball thrower and ball are enclosed within the casing when it is folded up for convenience in use. Thecasing is preferably constructed of paste-board or other similar light material.

What I claim is A portable apparatus of the character de scribed, including a foldable casing having a vertical back, a top board, vertical end boards and a bottom board, all hinged together, the bottom board being marked to represent a basket-ball field, and the end boards forming end guards, when the apparatus is in use, a ball not carried by said back above said field and a ball thrower movable on said field, and formed to project a ball toward the net.

, In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLIVER P. SPILMAN.

- l Jitnesses:

R. M. SMITH,

WM. A. OATHEY. 

